Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Time to welcome March.
A few days until Daylight Savings Time starts.
Maybe a last gasp for winter?
Nah.
The 10-day outlook has a day of cold, and some days of precipitation. But not together.
A year without snow days for Augusta County schools? Looking likely.

Don Surber thinks we'll be throwing in the towel after Super Tuesday - Romney will be on the way to the nomination.
I'm looking forward to voting Tuesday - oops, Santorum's not on the ballot. He did better than expected in February, but March expectation are based on delegate totals - not wishing and hoping.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

No more Space Shuttles, but there's still the International Space Station in the evening sky.
If it's clear Thursday around 7:10 p.m., you can see the ISS head over the East Coast and out over the Atlantic.
Enjoy the view.

It's always amusing when West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller makes a comment about rising gas prices.
Where'd his family fortune come from?
His great-grandfather running a gas monopoly.
Enjoy the quote. “I’ve already proposed several ideas, such as opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and preventing Wall Street insiders from trying to make an easy profit which can impact the price that struggling families pay for gas. And it’s important that we make sure oil companies are not trying to reap profits while West Virginians are paying more for gas. This is an issue we should all be able to rally around as even slight increase have harsh impacts on individuals where every penny counts.”
Speculators are just following your family tradition, Rockefeller. Trying to make a buck on something people need.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Watching NBC29 means getting updates on a hunger strike at the University of Virginia for a living wage.
A number that's always moving higher.
A number that doesn't include benefits provided by the University.
No matter. They must protest.
UVa is a big place, with very few earning the lowest wage.
If the University doesn't budge, how long will the hunger strike last?
If the University does budge, what's the next protest going to be about?

Tuesday, Republican voters in Michigan and Arizona will decide which candidate they think will be the best president of the United States.
Next Tuesday is Super Tuesday, when voters in states across the country will decide who they think will be the best candidate.
On March 15, President Obama will probably be on ESPN to tell who he thinks will win the NCAA men's basketball championship.
Voters are studying the issues. Obama's watching sports.

After the last week in Afghanistan, we have the answer to whether President Obama will allow a strike against Iran's nuclear program.
It's no.
We might accidently torch a Koran while trying to destroy the weapons of mass destruction.
We might hurt a holy book while Iran plans to blast the Holy Land.
Can't do that.

Linsanity is getting out of hand with the limited edition Lin flavor - and the unlimited paranoia about the racism of adding fortune cookies to the flavor.

The limited-edition flavor, "Taste the Lin-Sanity," featured crumbled fortune cookies along with honey swirls and a frozen yogurt vanilla base.After a near-immediate backlash over the racist implications of using a fortune cookie, the Cambridge, Mass. store issued an apology on its Facebook page on Friday — and substituted the fortune cookies with the waffle variety.
Just trying to ride the Linsanity wave, and getting crushed by the undertow.
UPDATE: Part of the roundups at Daley Gator and Jeffords.

On a busy Saturday, between doing chores and walking the dog, I wondered how Danica Patrick was doing in the Nationwide race on ESPN.
The leaderboard scrolled by.
Not in the top 10.
Where is she?
There she is. In the wall.

The debate over global warming changes as fast as the weather.
The latest?
Documents from a group supporting climate skeptics - Heartland Institute - were published. The global warming supporters claimed the conspiracy talk was right, that skeptics worked together to push their agenda.
Except a key document was a fake. It was created on the west coast while Heartland is in the Central Time Zone.
Sure these global warming scientists say they are smart. They just don't understand technology - or the blogosphere.
The final analysis?I’ll add that Walter Russell Mead has been arguing for a long time now that the environmental movement as a whole is the most incompetently led social movement ever. I’d put it shorter and simpler: what a bunch of losers. Only problem is, even losers can drag the rest of us down, if they gather and keep enough power. $6 gasoline anyone?

Matthew Continetti has a great piece on the weaknesses in the Obama 2012 campaign.Moreover, what, exactly, is the president’s message? Obama ran on hope and change and an end to the war in Iraq in 2008. He pledged to reform health care and Wall Street and change the tone in Washington. But the geniuses in Chicago have yet to come up with a 2012 slogan that is anywhere near as intoxicating. “Obama 2012: It Could Be Worse” just won’t cut it.
If Obama's fundraising pales in comparison to 2008, so will enthusiasm for voting for him.

It's Boogity, boogity, boogity time. The flag drops on the Daytona 500 on FOX Sunday at 1 p.m. Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will lead the field to the start/finish line as Waltrip starts another year in the announcer's booth.
The Twin 125s set the field Thursday afternoon. Danica and her Nationwide Series competitors open the season Saturday at noon on ESPN.
It's time for Jeremy Lin and friends - also known as NBA All-Star weekend. ESPN shows the Celebrity game at 7 p.m. Friday, then TNT goes with the Rising Stars contest with Lin at 9 p.m.
The dunk contest and other skills events take place Saturday at 8 p.m. before the stars shine Sunday at 6 p.m. Virginia Tech visits Duke Saturday at noon on the ACC Network, followed by a split regional at 2:30 p.m. - either Maryland at Georgia Tech or N.C. State-Clemson. CBS offers a trio of games Saturday, beginning at noon with Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky. At 2 p.m., there's the choice of UCLA against Arizona or Villanova-Georgetown, then at 4 p.m. Missouri plays Kansas. Sunday at 2 p.m., Pittsburgh travels to Louisville before the Big Ten battle between Wisconsin and Ohio State.
ESPN's Friday includes Marquette going to West Virginia Friday at 9 p.m. Virginia hosts North Carolina Saturday at 4 p.m., followed by Mississippi State at Alabama. The GameDay crew catches Syracuse-Connecticut at 9 p.m.
Sunday at 1 p.m., Indiana takes on Minnesota.
On ESPN2, Loyola of Maryland goes to Rider Friday at 7 p.m. and then it's five games on Saturday. The day opens at noon with Notre Dame vs. St. John's, followed by Texas A&M-Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. and Creighton facing Indiana State. Virginia schools then take the stage, with George Mason against VCU at 6 p.m. before Richmond battles Xavier. Comcast starts Saturday with Boston College visits Wake Forest at 1 p.m., then it's off to the CAA at 4 p.m. for Drexel's game with Old Dominion. There's a PAC-12 doubleheader Sunday, with California at Colorado at 5:30 p.m. before Oregon faces Oregon State.
Saturday's play on MASN starts at 4 p.m. with Texas at Texas Tech, followed by Campbell vs. Liberty at 7 p.m. The Big East gets coverage Sunday at noon when South Florida hosts Cincinnati.
UNLV hosts Air Force Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
The PGA tour has the World Match Play Championship Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC. We'll see who makes it to Sunday.
The Capitals host Montreal Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and visit Toronto Saturday at 7 p.m. while NBC Sports Network shows Chicago-Anaheim Sunday at 6 p.m.
In women's basketball, MASN shows DePaul against Louisville Saturday at noon. Sunday, Comcast has Boston College playing Miami at 1 p.m. before Old Dominion goes to James Madison. ESPN2 has the ACC regular season finale between Duke and North Carolina at 3 p.m. followed by LSU-Georgia. NBC Sports Network has a college ice hockey doubleheader Friday. Vermont hosts Boston University at 7:30 p.m., followed by North Dakota-Denver. ESPN shows the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

What index best determines whether a president wins re-election?
Unemployment rate?
Dow Jones Industrials?
Picks by some zoo animal?
How about my Lily Ledbetter index?
The more times Obama and his supporters mention the Ledbetter act, the most likely they will lose.Michelle Obama went to Louisville, and the local newspaper faithfully repeats her talking points on the Obama achievements.
Sure enough, she mentions Lily Ledbetter.
It's right up there with the death of bin Laden - things that happened during Obama's tenure, not due to Obama's tenure.
When the resume's so thin you're mentioning Lily Ledbetter, you haven't done much in your term. Definitely not much to earn four more years.

Ace provides the wisdom from President Obama.“You pay more, they’re licking their chops. You can bet that since it’s an election year, they’re already dusting off their three-point plan for $2 gas. I’ll save you the suspense. Step one is to drill and step two is to drill and then step three is to keep drilling. "
And the appropriate response.Wow, you really are a genius, champ.
btw, if U.S. oil production is up during the Obama years, why is the price spiking again?

It's the last Thursday of February sweeps, so the last new Big Bang Theory for a while - NCAA tournament and other reasons.Jeffords brings back Kaley Cuoco Thursday after a brief hiatus.
You'll just have to settle for your reruns and DVDs for a while.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Reporters in Charlottesville, Waynesboro and elsewhere in the southeast have more reason to be uneasy - Media General is looking to sell its newspaper division.
What's the biggest problem for newspapers?
Get up early and find out.
The car speeding through your neighborhood, delivering the daily product.
Passing many houses en route to the few who still get the paper.
Lots of wasted effort and missed opportunities to deliver the newspaper.
We'll see if they'll have a buyer.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The question - How big a donation will the Obama campaign be asking for in emails this summer?
My answer - 50 cents.
The latest Obama campaign missive arrived today, asking for a $2 donation for a chance to have dinner with the President.
Down from $3
Down from $5.
If you didn't donate for a chance to meet the president at $3, why donate for $2?
How low can Obama go?
I can't wait for the email asking for a $1 to meet the President.
Probably will arrive in a few months.
If only the price of gas would drop like the Obama campaign appeals.

One of the main bridges into downtown Charlottesville is crumbling.
So they held a design contest to suggest ideas for a replacement.
The winner?
No bridge at all - an at-grade crossing over the railroad tracks.
Why?“Designs like [Belmont Unabridged] are looking forward and saying, ‘What are the needs of the community going to be in the next 100 years? Will we [have] 150 coal cars coming by holding up traffic and do we need to accommodate that?’ Probably not,” said Brian Wimer, the Belmont filmmaker who created the contest.
Sorry, but as long as there's coal in West Virginia, there will be coal trains going through Charlottesville to Hampton Roads.
Off to Europe and the rest of the world.
You'll be admiring the view of coal cars while you wait at the crossing.
And empty coal cars headed back to the coalfields.
Is that the view you want?

Technorati gives this blog the same authority as Daily Galaxy.
They look at finding clues of the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system.
Think of how quickly that science has exploded. Do you know how many exoplanets have been discovered so far?

Smitty notes the hot water for Wycliffe Bible Translators changing the words in their Bibles to be more "Muslim friendly."
But it's not friendly for Christians in those countries.According to the testimony of one leader from a church in Bangladesh, one of the most problematic aspects of this development is that it gives fuel to the often-heard Muslim claim that Christians are liars who change their Bibles to deceive Muslims. Once a Bible translation is well established within any country, the introduction of such radically different translations reinforces the Muslim charge and undermines trust in the Christian community.
It's good to reach people with the gospel.
They need the words they can understand - not just the words, but the meaning behind them.

Last year on this date, I paid under $3 a gallon of gas for the last time.
It got close to $3 in December, but now it's back to $3.50 locally.
Via Instapundit, Powerline looks at how rising gas prices may impact President Obama.
Government numbers may look good, but people remember the numbers they see on the road everyday.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Interesting article from PJmedia on Vitamin D.
What prompted the scientist to check out the importance of Vitamin D?When I asked Holick what the source of his epiphany was so long ago, he explained that it was the simple fact that D is a critical nutrient without a natural food source. It is so important biologically that early humans could manufacture D even during famines.
If humans needed something to live in the past, logically they need it now.
Go out and get some sunshine.

Woke up Saturday and it looked like Fishersville would be getting five to eight inches of snow.
This morning?
One to three, at most.
Sorry kids, and snow fans.
Just watched NBC12 out of Richmond and it wouldn't surprise me for no snow at all to fall here.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

It's supposed to snow in the area on Sunday.
But when?
Does a church cancel all services if it's not supposed to snow until the 11 a.m. one?
Back in Bluefield, West Virginia, church may go on if the snow holds off. But when your music team is on standby with the power company, church may sound a little different.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Some think President Obama's re-election chances are getting better.
Bin Laden is still dead, the unemployment numbers are going down and the economy seems to be doing better.Bill Quick doesn't believe it.We’re heading into recession right now. Interest rates have bottomed. Housing is still crashing, and will continue to do so, thanks to the recent corrupt deal between the states’ attorneys general and the banks, which will bring the foreclosure “overhang” into devastating reality for the market itself. Europe is mostly in recession, and the Euro is about to collapse. Most of this will be well underway by this November’s election, and it will be deadly for Obama’s chances of re-election.
I feel better reading that.

George Mason and VCU have busted brackets in past years.
Murray State hopes to do it in 2012.
It's the weekend of the annual BracketBusters, where teams from mid-major conferences battle against each other to get ready for March Madness. VCU hosts Northern Iowa Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, then Saturday play opens at noon with Wichita at Davidson on ESPN2. Akron visits Oral Roberts at 2 p.m. and it's Nevada-Iona at 4 p.m. The night concludes at 10 p.m. when Long Beach State goes to Creighton.
St. Mary's plays one-loss Murray State on ESPN at 6 p.m.
Among the big boys, the ACC network has two games Saturday at 1 p.m., Virginia hosts Maryland while Florida State travels to N.C. State.CBS has either UCLA-St. John's or UNLV-New Mexico Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday, Michigan State takes on Purdue. Saturday on ESPN starts in the Big East with Marquette-Connecticut at noon. Missouri faces Texas A&M at 2 p.m. before Clemson heads to North Carolina. The GameDay crew will be at Michigan for the game with Ohio State at 9 p.m.
Rutgers meets Syracuse Sunday at 1 p.m.
Taking a break from BracketBusters, ESPN2 shows Arkansas hosting Florida Saturday at 6 p.m. Sunday, Big East gets coverage at 7 p.m. as South Florida visits Pittsburgh. Comcast puts the ACC on stage Saturday, as Wake Forest goes to Miami at 1 p.m. before Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech. Late night, it's Arizona against Washington. It's back to the Pac-12 Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with Oregon battling Stanford.
There's three Big East games on MASN Saturday, starting at noon with Louisville at DePaul. Seton Hall visits Cincinnati at 4 p.m. and Providence battles Georgetown at 7 p.m.
On NBC Sports network, San Diego State takes on Air Force Saturday at 4 p.m.
The new year of NASCAR starts Saturday at 8 p.m. on FOX, with the best drivers matching up in the Bud Shootout. Sunday at 1 p.m., qualifying starts for the Daytona 500. The top two will be starting up front when the Great American Race goes next Sunday. ESPN's doubleheader Friday starts at 8 p.m. with the Mavericks in Philadephia, then the Suns battle the Lakers. Sunday at 8 p.m., the Nuggets meet the Thunder.
Lin-sanity comes to ABC Sunday when Dallas visits the Knicks at 1 p.m., followed by Orlando vs. Miami.
The Wizards head west this weekend, playing at Utah Friday at 9 p.m. on Comcast-plus. NBC has its Hockey Day in America Sunday. There's regional coverage of three games at noon - San Jose vs. Detroit, Penguins at Sabres and St. Louis against Chicago - before Boston visits Minnesota at 3 p.m. NBC Sports Network closes the day with the Devils at Montreal at 6 p.m.
The Capitals visit Florida Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and Tampa Bay Saturday at 7 p.m. CBS carries the Northern Trust Open Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Dartmouth faces Yale in college ice hockey Friday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
In Big East women's basketball, Marquette faces Syracuse at 2 p.m. Saturday on MASN. ESPN2 has a pair of games Sunday, with Maryland against Duke at 3 p.m. and Purdue-Michigan State at 5 p.m., while Comcast shows Florida State-Miami Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Spring sports loom on college campuses, and NBC Sports network has a lacrosse doubleheader - Denver vs. Ohio State at 2 p.m. before Navy takes on Jacksonville.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

I guess we're getting snow in Fishersville this weekend.
Food Lion had plastic sleds and bags of salt by the door this evening.SWACgirl will be happy.
But inside the store, there was a display with vegetables seeds.
It's almost spring in the Valley.

...next year's Swimsuit issue will be shot at CPAC.
They thanked DaTech Guy for the idea.This year at CPAC the skirts seemed to get higher MUCH higher to the point where I mentioned in passing: “Why bother even wearing a skirt? Just wear a bathing suit and be done with it.”
Instapundit sees what comes next.I predict a vast increase in CPAC attendance next year.
UPDATE: Troglopundit provides the photo.

Instapundit sums up the 2012 election in one sentence.Obama spent us into bankruptcy, most of the money went to cronies, and the job situation got worse.
I can think of 5 trillion reasons why Obama shouldn't be re-elected.

The Other McCain continues discussing hot topics from last weekend's CPAC gathering.
And gives good job search advise.So I couldn’t really complain, you see. Even if I had been personnel director of Salem Communications, I would have had to tell my buddies, “Sorry. We’re hiring the blonde chick.”Or maybe a redhead.

It's the day of the underdog.
On the sports pages, Jeremy Lin is the new king. Almost as much air time on ESPN as Tim Tebow.
In the Republican primaries, Rick Santorum is surging.
The guy with little money and little support before Iowa may be making big noise before February ends.
Both guys have grabbed headlines when they weren't supposed to be anywhere near the limelight.
Lin-sanity has captured New York.
Can Santorum capture the White House?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

It's a bad day to be a Democrat in Virginia.
Republicans voted on the personhood bill and a requirement for women to have ultrasounds before an abortion.
How dare people be informed about what they are doing?

I like Rep. Paul Ryan's statement on the latest Obama budget.“President Obama’s irresponsible budget is a recipe for a debt crisis and the decline of America. His refusal to honestly confront our nation’s most pressing challenges does real harm to the economic security of millions of American families."
People fuss at Paula Deen's recipes causing diabetes.
President Obama's budgets will cause worse problems, and soon.

The New York Times stirs the pot today with - why do areas that get government spending support the party that's against government spending.Blue Virginia has his answer - they are racist.
They hear dog whistle phrases.
They've been brainwashed by the rich.
Other such crap.
First of all, live is not all economic.
For many people, there's more to life than voting for the party that gives you more stuff.
In some areas, the people are led because they are fed. They vote Democratic.
Others see the government money not coming with goodies, but strings attached. To get money, you've got to do stuff the government way.
Liberals areas may provide more money than they get, but the government money gives them jobs that inflate their net worth - and self-worth.
Liberals think they're superior, but maybe - in providing so much money to the government - they aren't very bright.

Didn't we just finish pro football season?
It's already time for spring sports at the University of Virginia.
Except they don't like playing softball with wind chills in the teens.
What's the wind chill when you swing and miss at a pitch?

It's hard to get excited about the NBA regular season, especially after a lockout that shortened the season.Jeremy Lin is trying to change that.
ESPN seems enchanted.
Fan have the fever.A local Modell's reportedly sold out of 62 Lin jerseys in two hours on Friday and stores across the city have stacked up orders for hundreds more.

Friday, February 10, 2012

My company allows teleworking, so I only have to hit the road a few times a day to visit the office.
The rest of the time I work from Fishersville.
So I'm part of the reason gasoline deliveries have dropped recently.
Most of the reason?
The $3.00-plus prices per gallon.
If we all had to park our cars due to the high price of gas, President Obama would try to claim credit for saving the environment. Even if we're shivering in our cold houses.

After days of getting bashed - even by friends - the Obama administration appears ready to back down on the contraception controversy.
Interesting to see the background on past discussions.“What are we doing here?” asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, stepping outside his wheelhouse to ask about a rising storm involving the Obama administration and the Catholic Church. “What’s the point?”
The contraception controversy was a trap for Obama and friends - firing up enemies of Obamacare. They walked right into it.
Let's see how they deal with it.

When I arrived in Charlottesville in the summer of 1995, the Virginia Cavaliers were coming off a finish in the NCAA Elite Eight.
The 16 seasons since the arrival of Ralph Simpson had been pretty good for the school - a pair of NIT titles, two visits to the Final Four and shares of four ACC regular season championships.
The sixteen years since haven't been much to talk about.
The 2011-2012 Cavaliers started strong, pushing their way toward the top. They get a chance to impress Saturday when they visit North Carolina at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network.
At the halfway point of the conference season, the Tar Heels and Duke share the lead with Florida State, with Virginia close behind. After a blowout win over Wake Forest Wednesday, the Cavaliers get North Carolina and Florida State at home before the season ends.
Other parts of the ACC area will see Miami vs. Florida State.CBS shows Syracuse against Connecticut Saturday at 1 p.m., then goes to the Big Ten Sunday at 1 p.m. for Illinois' game with Michigan.
The Gameday crew closes Saturday at Kentucky's game on Vanderbilt at 9 p.m. on ESPN. The day starts at noon with West Virginia-Louisville, followed by Kansas State at Texas. Maryland battles Duke at 4 p.m. before Michigan State goes against Ohio State.
Sunday, St. John's takes on Georgetown at 1 p.m.
Six games fill the ESPN2 schedule on Saturday. Butler meets Cleveland State at 11 a.m., followed by Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State-Utah State. At 5 p.m., Wichita State goes against Creighton before Alabama-LSU. The day closes in the Atlantic 10 with Temple against Xavier at 9 p.m.
The CAA starts the day Saturday on Comcast, with Towson meeting James Madison before VCU takes on Old Dominion. Clemson plays Wake Forest at 4 p.m., then in primetime it's off to Conference USA for UAB-Memphis. MASN starts Saturday in the Big East as Notre Dame plays DePaul at noon. It's CAA action at 7 p.m., with George Mason visiting UNC-Wilmington.
Pittsburgh faces Seton Hall Sunday at noon.
San Diego State battles UNLV Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
It's off to Peeble Beach for the PGA tour, with CBS having coverage Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
ABC's Sunday NBA game brings together the Bulls and Celtics at 3:30 p.m.
The Lakers visit New York Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, then the Thunder play the Jazz. There's another ESPN doubleheader Sunday, with the Hawks and Heat at 7 p.m. before the Jazz play the Grizzlies.
The Wizards take on Miami Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast before heading to Detroit Sunday at 6 p.m. to play the Pistons.
The Capitals face the Rangers Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on NBC. The Flyers take on Detroit Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network. NBC Sports network has a college ice hockey twinbill Friday. Boston College travels to Vermont at 7:30 p.m., followed by Minnesota-Denver. MASN has Big East women's basketball between Connecticut and Georgetown Saturday at 4 p.m. Comcast shows USC vs. California Saturday at 11 p.m. Sunday at 1 p.m., Duke takes on Florida State before the PAC-12 matchup between UCLA and Stanford.
High school basketball takes the stage Friday on ESPN2, with DeMatha facing Gonzaga of D.C. at 7:30 p.m. NBC offers the Dew Winter Tour from Utah Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The USA Track and Field Classic goes on ESPN2 Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Iowahawk takes a good look at Clint Eastwood's commercial.
I thought this was the best lineDetroit’s showing us it can be done. Just like Sergio Leone did with Spaghetti Westerns, It's reinventing a dying American institution with a fistful of dollars from sleazy Italians - and with me at the top of the marquee.
Until I got to the end.And, speaking of hideous rusted clunkers from Detroit, please enjoy Madonna's halftime show.

The jackpot for the coming Powerball drawing is estimated at $310 million.
Will President Obama go out and buy a few more tickets?
Better than his other ideas to solve the deficit.
UPDATE: Approved by Wyblog.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Ace runs the numbers on forcing all employers to provide abortion-related coverage for their health care.By the way, you know what Plan B costs? $20-30 or cheaper.In order to spare women the costs of having to shell out twenty bucks once or twice a year (and that would be a lot, wouldn't it?), Obama's determined to run roughshod over religious liberties.And it's not even sparing them the costs, of course. Insurers do not have piles of magic free money. What they pay out must always be a fair amount less than what is paid into them via premiums.
Free magic money?
I think that's Obama is depending on to gain another term.

Still no snow days for Augusta County schools.
A few flurries gets us excited now.
And spring's coming. Wal-Mart is already putting garden stuff in the parking lot to entice shoppers.
Sorry, snowbirds.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

When you check Facebook, you can find something good - or something shocking.
This morning, the feed from a friend from South Carolina told sad news - the death of his 14-year-old son.
So sudden.
So sad.
R.I.P.

Instapundit links a lengthy piece on the New Jersey Supreme Court - taking control of the state and driving it to bankruptcy.The supreme court’s spending mandates have left taxpayers in Jersey groaning under the nation’s highest tax burden: more than 12 percent of income produced there goes to state and local taxes, according to the Washington-based Tax Foundation. Residents’ income taxes pay for court-ordered spending in far-off urban school systems, as well as for a state government that, thanks to the court, is untrammeled by constitutional limits on spending. Meanwhile, the property taxes that residents pay to finance their own school systems and local government must rise to pay for the court’s local housing schemes.

Monday, February 6, 2012

When Blue Virginia says a blog post is "just an ungodly mishmash/mess of untruths, red herrings, and dark conspiracy theories," I know I'll enjoy it.
He can't stand Bacon Rebellion's post on global warming, so time for a closer look.
Bacon is sizzling, in a good way.There are multiple, nested layers to the Global Warming (GW) debate, and I am not at all convinced that they lead ineluctably to Trenberth’s position in support of massive government intervention in the economy. Indeed, I suspect that the only people who are persuaded by that chain of reasoning are predisposed to be suspicious of free markets and inclined to favor big government, especially when greater government control puts like-minded people at the helm.
It's a simple post.Why does the solution to global warming mean what supporters have always wanted to do - increase government power.
What if lowering taxes helped the environment?
Why not focus on bringing the third world up to our standards instead of halting progress in the developed world?
Sorry Blue Virginia can't understand it.
They just need to think different.

On the first Thursday night of September, an NFL stadium will be the site of a big event.
President Obama's acceptance speech in Charlotte?
Nah.
Look north to the Meadowlands. With their victory, the New York Giants should host the NFL's Thursday night opener that night.
Obama?
Been there, heard it all before.
I'm looking forward to another NFL season.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Congrats to the New York Giants for another Super Bowl win.
ESPN ran a good story on defensive lineman Justin Tuck, who befriended a teenager dying of cancer.
See you in the Meadowlands Sept. 6 for the 2012 season opener.

Democrats celebrated lower unemployment in the U.S. in January.
But the numbers in Greece may have a bigger say for his November chances.Lucas Papademos, the Greek premier, failed to make party leaders accept harsh terms in return for a second €130bn bail-out, pushing Athens closer to a disorderly default as early as next month.

Interesting link at Blue Virginia about tar sands pipelines.
Did you know there's a new pipeline from Canada to Wisconsin?
Neither did the Democratic senators contacted by National Journal.
Thus, we get the quote from Louisiana's Mary Landrieu.

“The same administration approved that one?” said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who also didn’t know that the Obama administration had backed the Enbridge project. “Then why aren’t they approving this one? I don’t know.”

Should the Obama administration be touting this pipeline support?

Or does it want the news kept quiet, to keep it's environmental allies happy?

Saturday, February 4, 2012

While it's important to look for cleaner ways to run our economy, we ought to look at bringing the third world out of the stone age.
Via instapundit, news of a cleaner burning stove for the developing world.
Provide clean water and better ways to fuel their lives will make a bigger difference than spending much money to make negligible gains for the environment here in the United States.

DaTech Guy has some good posts about the Komen kerfuffle.
They are both battles in the looming war between those who's gotten rich from political power and the budget shortfalls of the future.

Hey whiner, how long are we going to have to carry your lazy butt?

In the good years, government granted their employees salaries and benefits to match the day - not looking to the future when those bills had to be paid.
Now it's not so good, and we have to tighten our belts. Some groups that had plenty of money in the past will have to do without. We will have to prioritize.
Obviously, those who are being cut will whine.
But those paying the bills will have to weigh the whine against their mission.
Last week on Facebook, some of my friends posted the picture urging drug tests for those getting government benefits.
Why? Are they against the poor?
No, they are hard working people trying of being discriminated against. If you can't get a job without a drug test, it's discrimination against you if others get government money without being checked.
You have drug tests in occupations to make sure people and those they meet on the job are safe. Shouldn't we care that those getting government benefits are safe?
When money is limited, it comes with more strings attached.
A tighter budget means you must focus on the basics and put aside excess spending.
Whining may have seemed to work for Planned Parenthood now. But it can't go on forever.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Mark Steyn has his take on the Komen Foundation racing toward disaster.After 72 hours being fitted for the liberals' cement overcoat and an honored place as the cornerstone of the Planned Parenthood Monument to Women's Choice, Komen attempted to chisel free and back into the good graces of the tolerant: As Nancy Brinker's statement groveled, "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives."Congratulations! Planned Parenthood certainly raised Nancy's awareness. I wonder what color ribbon that comes with? Black and blue?

The big game - and big commercials - will be on NBC this year. The New England Patriots and New York Giants kickoff Super Bowl XLVI sometime after 6:30 p.m. - depending on the length of the performance of the Star Spangled Banner.

It's been 10 years since Tom Brady and the Patriots splashed onto the scene, edging the Rams in the final seconds. And it's been seven years since their last title - thanks to the Giants' win four years ago.

NBC also has a new event Saturday at 9 p.m. - NFL Honors dishes out many of the league's top awards.

Saturday on ESPN starts with Syracuse-St. John's at noon, then Ohio State plays Wisconsin. Maryland meets North Carolina at 4 p.m. before Kentucky faces South Carolina. The Game Day crew visits Missouri for the 9 p.m. game with Kansas.

Sunday at 2 p.m., Villanova takes on Pittsburgh.

Saturday brings six games on ESPN2, starting at noon with Detroit battling Butler from the Super Bowl city. Temple plays Rhode Island from the Atlantic 10, followed by Middle Tennessee State-Denver. Iowa State meets Oklahoma at 6 p.m., then Mississippi plays Alabama before Indiana State battles Wichita State.

CBS also has two games Saturday at 1 p.m. - Marquette vs. Notre Dame and Vanderbilt at Florida. Sunday at 1 p.m., Michigan faces Michigan State.

Virginia Tech meets Clemson Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on Comcast, and it's off to the PAC-12 at 11 p.m. for USC-Washington.

There's three Big East games on MASN Saturday, starting at noon with Seton Hall at Connecticut. Rutgers visits Louisville at 4 p.m., followed by DePaul-Cincinnati at 7 p.m. The Big South gets in the action at 2 p.m. with Charleston Southern facing Coastal Carolina.

The PGA tour heads to Phoenix Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. And don't forget to take out the trash.

The Capitals have their traditional Super Bowl afternoon game, facing Boston at 12:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network. The day before, they are in Montreal at 2 p.m. on Comcast.

ESPN's Friday NBA doubleheader features the Knicks at Celtics in the opener at 8 p.m., followed by Lakers-Nuggets. Comcast shows the Wizards' game at Toronto Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday's contest with the Clippers at 7 p.m.

Smitty has a link to the CPAC schedule 2012.
I won't be able to attend this year, but maybe next - the first CPAC after the Obama debacle.
What's a more fun CPAC? One anticipating the end of Obama, or one celebrating the end?

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

How did Romney get the nickname "Mitt?"
Was it like this?Momma Romney saying "Willard, if you say another stupid thing, I'm going to put a mitt in your mouth."
He must have said plenty of stupid things as a kid.

So sad to see Planned Parenthood protesting the decision by Susan G. Komen Foundation to end their funding.
Maybe Planned Parenthood can hold its breath til it turns blue.
Hey, a new abortion procedure idea.
Nah, babies in the womb aren't that dumb to follow along with that advice.